Farakou Massa
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Farakou Massa | |
|---|---|
  Farakou Massa Location in Mali | |
| Coordinates: 13°39′40″N 5°52′20″W / 13.66111°N 5.87222°W | |
| Country |  Mali |
| Region | Ségou Region |
| Cercle | Ségou Cercle |
| Admin centre (chef-lieu) | Kominé |
| Area | |
• Total | 109 km2 (42 sq mi) |
| Population (2009 census)[2] | |
• Total | 14,314 |
| • Density | 130/km2 (340/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
Farakou Massa is a village and rural commune in the Cercle of Ségou in the Ségou Region of Mali. The commune lies along the right bank of the River Niger and includes 8 villages in an area of approximately 109 square kilometers.[3] In the 2009 census it had a population of 14,314.[2] The administrative center (chef-lieu) of the commune is the village of Kominé which is 49 km northeast of Ségou.
Farakou was historically the seat of a minor kingdom, one of 12 making up the province of Kala under the Mali and Songhai Empires. According to legend, the first king was a woman.[4] In 1599 the mansa of Farakou joined the Mali emperor in his disastrous assault on Djenne, the only Kala kingdom to do so besides N'Goa.[5] In 1644 the king of Farakou joined a Arma invasion of the Sultanate of Massina, and the following year was sacked by Bambara marauders.[6]
